Madam, – Much has been made of the ignorant waffle allegedly indulged in by three gardaí whose job it was to police the Corrib protesters in Co Mayo. Quite rightly, investigations into their conduct is currently under way.
What has been singularly lacking however, is the political will to bring a halt to this 15-year circus that has spawned a plethora of Punch-like articles in newspapers and magazines around the world.
Unruly elements among the protesters, some well-known to the gardaí, have burdened Irish taxpayers with a massive bill for police overtime as they continue to show scant regard for lawful protest.
As things stand, our small open economy is on life-support and can ill afford the cost of this interminable squabbling over a much- needed terminal that has already been built to the highest safety standards.
Our low tax rate will count for little and recovery will stall if we are seen to be a country of immature nationalists, who regard the Shell company logo as the new Union Jack. – Yours, etc,